MLS Rivalry Week

By Anonymous (not verified), July 5, 2022

Thank you MLS:

THE PITCH: TOP THINGS TO WATCH IN MLS THIS WEEK

Rivalry Over Everything for MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week

Heineken® Rivalry Week will highlight the biggest stars and fiercest matchups from Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 17.With the top rivalries played out across 10 days, Heineken® Rivalry Week opens with a Friday night with a doubleheader on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as the Philadelphia Union host D.C. United (7:30 p.m. ET), followed by El Tráfico, as the LA Galaxy take the short trip north on the 110 Freeway to face Los Angeles FC (10 p.m. ET) with the debuts of international icons Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini. Cascadia captures the FOX and FOX Deportes spotlight as the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League victors Seattle Sounders FC host the Portland Timbers (July 9, 4:30 p.m. ET), followed by a full complement of rivalry favorites available nationally on ESPN+. Heineken® Rivalry Week action culminates on July 17, as the New York Red Bulls welcome New York City FC to Red Bull Arena (5 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).It’s rivalry over everything.

El Tráfico Welcomes New Star-Studded Cast in Crosstown Showdown

Pictured: Los Angeles Galaxy midfielders Marky Delgado (left) and Victor Vazquez (right) and LAFC forward Carlos Vela (center). Photo Credits: Gary A. Vasquez (IMAGN / USA Today Sports)

Global superstars will collide this week in what could be the most action-packed El Tráfico match since the rivalry began between the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club in 2018. Now approaching their 16th all-time meeting, the LA Galaxy with Javier “Chicharito” Hernández are already touting two wins this season over their in-city rivals across all competitions. However, the Galaxy will travel to face a supercharged LAFC with Carlos Vela on the brink of a rivalry milestone and added reinforcements, as newly acquired international icons Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini make their first MLS appearances during high-pressure MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week action this Friday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).Star power and first impressions have always defined this rivalry, which saw the LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović and LAFC’s Vela go toe-to-toe and goal-for-goal to inaugurate the series on March 31, 2018. During the match, Ibrahimović’s first-ever MLS touch for the LA Galaxy netted a 45-yard half-volley equalizer, followed by his game-winning goal that overtook Vela’s early brace in an instant-classic first meeting. Fast forward to now, and Vela is only one score away from surpassing Ibrahimović for most goals by an individual player in this rivalry series, as the pressure is on for LAFC’s Bale and Chiellini to make their own marks on rivalry history.For the Galaxy, Hernández and Dejan Joveljić will look to repeat some recent magic against their crosstown rivals after both scored in a 3-1 victory over LAFC in U.S. Open Cup action on May 25.While the Galaxy have a 6-2-5 advantage over their rivals in MLS play, Saturday’s Heineken® Rivalry Week meeting will usher in the next era of superstars looking to write their way into El Tráfico history.

Portland Look to Extend Unbeaten Run Against Rivals Seattle

Pictured: Portland Timbers forward Santiago Moreno. Photo Credits: Soobum Im (IMAGN / USA Today Sports)

The intensity is climbing in the Pacific Northwest for a Heineken® Rivalry Week clash of Cascadia foes, as the Portland Timbers prepare to face Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX Deportes) in the longest running rivalry in American soccer history.The Timbers approach this match with an opportunity to extend their unbeaten run in Seattle to six games since 2017, boasting offensive production that has found another gear thanks to Jarosław Niezgoda’s three goals in his last three games and 22-year-old Santiago Moreno also scoring a brace during that stretch. The Timbers have found the back of the net in each of their last five games, including goals from six different players, as they prepare for their trip to Seattle this weekend.Meanwhile, Seattle forward Fredy Montero has been a thorn in the Timbers’ side, with nine goals in 15 regular season appearances against Portland, and he comes into this Heineken® Rivalry Week matchup having scored in Seattle’s 2-0 win over Toronto last week. Seattle’s strength in depth has also been on full display over their last five games, with midfielder Dylan Tevez scoring his first career MLs goal in first career start against Toronto while star players in midfielder Cristian Roldan, forward Jordan Morris, and midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro have scored or assisted eight of Seattle’s last 13 goals.With bragging rights on the line, the Portland Timbers will be looking to claim a statement win over their biggest rivals, as the reigning CCL champions Seattle Sounders FC aim to maintain their dominance.

Fortified Union Defense Looks to Quiet Free-Scoring D.C. United

Pictured: Philadelphia Union defenders Jack Elliott (left) and Jakob Glesnes (right). Photo Credits: Mitchell Leff (IMAGN / USA Today Sports)

When the first match of Heineken® Rivalry Week kicks off this week, an Eastern Conference affair will pit the Philadelphia Union’s league-best defense against a D.C. United side with no shortage of goal-hungry finishers on Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).The Union have the league’s stingiest back line so far in 2022, with center back duo Jakob Glesnes and Jack Elliott each starting all 18 games in front of Andre Blake. The pairing of Elliott, the Union’s fourth round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, and Glesnes, a part-time mailman in 2016 and 2017, brings together as an unlikely defensive unit that has helped Philadelphia keep seven clean sheets.D.C. United will pose a difficult test with three players currently sitting on at least four goals this season, including forward Taxiarchis “Taxi” Fountas, who recorded his first career MLS hat trick last week and whose 12 goals plus assists (nine goals, three assists) are tied for the most in league history by a player in his first 10 career games. In his company are forwards Ola Kamara, with six goals to his name as well, and Michael Estrada with four goals and four assists in his eight starts.It's the ultimate Heineken® Rivalry Week test of offense against defense this weekend, and the pressure is on to win over everything.